K31 Barrel Markings

[Mike in Wis.]

I recently aquired a K31 as a shooter. It arrived from the seller in very nice condition, which seems to be the rule.

I've been reading up on the rifles, and have stripped the rifle to give it a once over, using several web pages specific to the Swiss rifles to identify some of the stamps and proof markings.

The rifle was built in 1942, the stock, handguard, bolt, magazine and receiver are all serial numbered the same. The barrel, however is marked with the normal proof marks one would expect but, I had read that the shoulder should contain the last 3 digits of the rifle's serial number. This one does not... it is marked with a 5 digit number, then the various proof marks (BP firing proof is about dead center at 12 o'clock with barrel installed). There are several digits that follow in a slightly different script... C G 1. At first I thought the 1 was a witness mark but it actually appears to be the number 1 instead. Any idea what these marks mean ? And, why would the barrel number be 5 digit and different from the rifle serial number? No K31 serial numbers consist of five digits. Replacement barrel ? Or was the marking info I read wrong ?

Mike

Information

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[Aragorn243]

Mike,

Your information is not wrong. It should be the intertwined BP mark followed by the 3 digit serial number. Sounds like you may have a replacement barrel. As for the other markings, CG could stand for the Canton Glarus. Or it could be an inspector's mark or subcontractors mark. Subcontractors mark might make more sense if it is a replacement barrel.

Unfortunately, my book doesn't explain the procedures for a replacement barrel. I have Swiss Magazine Loading Rifles by Joe Poyer.

[Frederick303]

The barrels are marked with two numbers, the 5-digit manufacturer barrel serial number and once assembled on the action the last three digits of the action. These three digit action numbers will be on the left hand side of the barrel. When assembled on the action and mounted in the stock the last three digits of the action number will be visible on the barrel. The 5-digit manufacture serial number will be under the wood line. The CG 1 was either the inspector or the man who rifled the barrel; in my listing it is shown as the “Rohr mark” which means barrel mark in English.

On the bottom flat of the barrel should be a mark that indicates Hammerli or SIG manufacture. Hammer for Hammerli, rifle for SIG

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Gleening some good information here.

[Mike in Wis.]

Thanks guys... It's a Hammerli barrel. I received information tonight from a former Swiss Army armorer regarding the barrel markings. He said that, by his memory, not all barrels would be found marked with the three rifle serial number digits. Apparently those were often added by unit armorers when missing and not necessarily at the time of assembly. He related to me that in his experience, some rifles would have the barrel number (5 digit) and not the 3 digit serial number prefix, while other rifles would have no barrel number but have only the 3 digit stamping. So I guess it's not entirely clear... but it seems this may not be a replacement barrel. If it were it would have stampings indicating such according to the former armorer. Interesting stuff...

The barrel is the only Hammerli part... the stock, action, bolt and handguard all have the SIG markings. I thought this odd... but the armorer told me it was very common. He said neither Hammerli nor SIG actually assembled the rifles, they made the parts. Assembly was done at Eidgenössiche Waffenbrick (a military armory ?).